Luke's POV

Four days goes by quickly. 

I quit my job yesterday. I finished packing my bags this morning. We shipped all our boxes out two days ago. I'm actually leaving. Today is the day I leave behind everything I've grown to love.

I kind of always knew I would never be staying in Maine permanently. It was only a temporary thing. I did not think the circumstances would be this way though or that I would have to leave so soon. I didn't expect to fall in love and have to leave the person that makes me happiest. I didn't expect any of this to happen.

I've spent almost every second of every last day with Delilah. I don't want to leave her. I don't want to leave Lucy or Ashton or Michael or anyone here. I'm scared to see what's waiting for me at home.

"Are you all set?" my dad asks, walking into my room.

I take one last look around the room I once hated and make sure I'm not forgetting anything. Delilah is sitting on my bed, looking down at the floor.

"All set," I tell him quietly.

I grab my bags, and Delilah follows me slowly out of the house. Ashton and Michael are waiting in the driveway. Lucy is with them too, standing in between both of them while holding a teddy bear. 

I told Ashton and Michael that I was leaving two days ago. Ashton tried to assure me that everything would be okay and Michael sat silently after I told them everything. Ashton has always been so positive, even right now he's smiling a little. But I can see the sadness in his eyes, and Michael looks like he barely slept. We have no idea when we'll all be together again. This could be the last time we see one another for a long time.

We all get into the car, with Michael and Ashton in the very back and Lucy, Delilah, and me in the middle. Lucy sits quietly, playing with her teddy bear. Delilah holds tightly onto my hand as my dad starts driving to the airport. No one is saying anything. I don't think any of us really know what to say. Having a normal conversation wouldn't feel right.

"Luke?" Lucy whispers, looking up at me after a few minutes.

"Yeah?"

"Are you and Lila gonna breakup?" 

"No," I tell her quietly. I look over at Delilah, who looks like she's trying not to cry. I squeeze her hand quickly.

"Okay, good. That would be sad. Then I couldn't be the flower girl at your wedding."

I laugh a little. "You don't need to worry about that."

I play with Delilah's fingers while our hands are intertwined. She leans her head on my shoulder lightly and kisses my cheek.

Ashton speaks up from the back, "I feel bad that you guys have to be long distance now. You both make each other so happy."

Michael slaps Ashtons arm. "You c-can't just s-say something l-like th-that right n-now!"

"Sorry," Ashton says. "But it's true."

Delilah smiles and turns around. "We'll still make each other happy."

"Good, because I can't deal with all my friends being sad," Ashton says.

"What does leg distance mean?" Lucy asks.

"It's long distance. It means they'll be really far away from each other," Ashton says.

"Oh. Okay," Lucy responds, still seeming confused.

We get to the airport half an hour later. We got here earlier than needed, because we knew it would take awhile to say our final goodbyes. 

Ashton gets out of the car and gives me a big hug. "I'll miss you. Even though we both hated each other when we first met, you're one of my best friends. I hope everything is okay at home."

"Thanks, Ash," I say quietly. We just got here, and I already feel like I'm going to cry. "Make sure everyone is okay when I'm gone, especially Delilah."

"I definitely will, don't worry."

Michael gives me a quick hug and looks down at his feet. "Th-thanks for everyth-thing. I'm s-sorry you have to l-leave like th-this. Call or t-text whenever."

"I will. Keep working on getting better, okay?"

Michael nods and quickly wipes his eyes. He goes to stand beside Ashton quietly.

I crouch down to Lucy's height, and she gives me a hug. She puts her small hands on my knees and looks at me with sad eyes.

"Bye, Lukey. I love you," she says quietly.

I put her tiny hands in mine and smile. "I love you, too. Guess what?"

"What?"

"You're the reason I'm talking, so I want to give you this," I tell her, pulling out a book from my bag. It's Oh, the Places You'll Go. "This is the first book I read to you, remember?"

Lucy giggles. "I remember. That's when you lost me and talked! And you got an accent."

I smile. "Right."

"I wanna give you this then," she says putting her teddy bear on my knee.

"Are you sure?" 

"Yep. I want you to have it."

"Thanks, that's very nice of you."

She hugs me again and kisses my cheek. "I'll miss you!"

"I'll miss you more."

I stand up and grab my bags. I put Lucy's teddy bear at the top of my bag. Delilah is leaning against the car and smiles a little when she sees me look at her.

"Ready?" I ask my dad.

He nods.

"We'll go park the car somewhere. Text me when you're on your way out," Ashton tells Delilah. Ashton is taking the car back home for us. "Come on, Lucy. Time to go," Ashton says, picking up Lucy. Lucy waves as we walk away.

Delilah wanted to stay with me for as long as she could, so we'll say goodbye once we're in the airport. I grab Delilah's hand as we walk into the airport, neither of us saying anything. We walk as far as we can go until Delilah has to leave. My dad sits down and gives us some time alone.

"You're actually leaving," Delilah whispers, leaning her forehead against mine.

"Mm hmm," I say, wrapping my arms around her. There's nothing I can say that can make this any easier. I prop my chin on the top of her head and hug her tightly. We stand like that for awhile, neither of us saying anything.

Delilah pulls away and looks up at me. She has some tears in her eyes. "I wish I could be with you every step of the way, but I can't. And I hope everything is okay at home," she whispers sadly. "I'm gonna miss you so much."

I start crying and hold on tightly to both of Delilah's hands. "I don't know what I'm gonna do without you. I found myself because of you."

Delilah smiles and wipes away her tears. "You'll be fine. We'll both be fine."

"Call me whenever. I don't care what time, okay?"

She nods. 

"I want you to enjoy the rest of Junior year and not worry about me. I promise I'll be okay."

Delilah smiles. "I'll try not to worry." 

I tuck a strand of hair behind her ear that's fallen in her face. Her cheeks are red and her eyes are watery. I can see some people watching us, but I don't care. All I care about right now is her and me.

"I'm not gonna say goodbye. I'll see you soon," she whispers.

I nod frantically, trying not to cry more. "I love you so much," I say, hugging her again.

"I love you too," she says, her voice muffled by our hug.

I kiss her one last time. I hold her face gently in my hands and wipe more tears off her cheeks with my thumb. I kiss her forehead lightly.

"See you sometime," I whisper.

"Soon," she responds.

"I don't want to turn around because then that means I'm really leaving, and we'll be going in different directions," I whisper.

She smiles sadly and sniffs. "We have to. Bye for now, Luke." She turns around slowly and I watch her walk away. I can tell that she's crying more now, because I can see her rubbing her eyes. She turns around and waves slowly before walking out the door. She mouths that she loves me.

My dad walks over to me and puts his arm around my shoulder.

"I'm sorry, bud," he says.

I wipe my eyes. "Let's go."

*

I forgot just how long the flight would be. With two stops in between, it's over 24 hours. I spent most of the flight sleeping, because when I wasn't sleeping, I was trying not to cry. I'm sad over what I'm leaving and what I'm going home to. It could change my life again. I kind of wish the flight wasn't over so I didn't have to get off and face what's really happening. But now we're finally landed in Sydney, about to get off the plane. My hands are kind of shaky and clammy because I'm so nervous. 

When we step off the plane, I'm struck with the reality that I really am here. I'm finally in Australia. I hear Australian accents, I see people in shorts. No more snow, no more freezing temperatures. I forgot how different it really is.

"Is mom really bad?" I ask my dad as we're walking to get our bags.

"I don't think so. Don't worry too much."

"I can't help it," I tell him, chewing on my bottom lip. 

I text Calum that we're waiting for our bags, since Calum is the one picking us up. He responds quickly and tells me he's outside the terminal.

I'm happy I get to see Calum and my mom, but I just wish it wasn't for this reason. I wish my mom wasn't sick and I was just coming to visit, like I was supposed to in a few months. 

I see our bags, and we grab them quickly. As we approach the terminal, I can see Calum standing outside waiting for us.

Calum notices me at the same time and smiles widely. When I get closer, I notice that my grandparents are standing beside him, too. I haven't seen them since I left.

"Do you see who's here with Calum?" I ask my dad.

He nods. My dad looks more nervous than I feel, which I didn't expect at all.

When we walk out, Calum gives me a big hug. My grandparents are smiling excitedly.

"Hey, Luke," Calum says. "I missed you." 

"Hi. Thanks for all this."

Calum smiles. "No problem."

My grandma puts her arms out for a hug. She looks much smaller than when I last saw her.

"Hey, Gram!" I say happily, giving her a hug.

"Your mom told us you were talking, but we couldn't believe it! Oh my, Luke! It's so nice to see you finally. And hear your voice!" she says, her eyes filling up with tears.

"What's your dad been feeding you? You've grown a foot!" my grandpa says, giving me a hug too.

I shrug and laugh.

My grandparents greet my dad too, and they give him a big hug. They haven't seen him since he moved. They're my mom's parents.

We follow Calum to the car. My grandparents keep pointing to different parking lots, forgetting where they parked. Calum remembers though and laughs every time my grandparents get it wrong. But we finally get to the car and leave the airport.

I have butterflies in my stomach because I know the next person I'll see is my mom. I'm afraid of how sick she might be and what condition she's in. I only know what my dad and Calum have told me. They might be keep details out so I don't get too worried. That's what scares me the most, not knowing.

This could change our lives forever. None of us know for sure what is going to happen to my mom. I've tried not to think about it too much, but now that I'm here and on my way to see her, I can't help it. 

To make things worse, Australia holds a lot of memories. A lot of which are upsetting. Delilah isn't here to help me when I get upset now. I have to do it on my own. I know I'll be getting upset, sad, and nervous frequently now, but I'm not going to let it take over me. I'm going to try to keep getting better, no matter what. I have to be here for my mom and make it easier for her. I can't make her stressed or worried about me. She needs to focus on herself now.

"Anything looking familiar?" my grandpa asks as we're driving.

I nod. "Everything." For some reason, I thought I would forget a lot, but I'm recognizing everything. It's almost like I never left. But I did leave, and now my mom is sick. Everything outside stayed the same, while our lives all changed.

Our lives will keep on changing, and I'm afraid of what will happen.

I'm so sorry for not updating for 2 weeks again. :( I have no school Monday, so I'm gonna try to update then (no promises though bc homework and I'm sick)

I got to meet a bunch of you guys though and you were all so cute and sweet! I love meeting you all! :)

Don't forget to preorder Remember to Forget on Amazon! How many of you have?!

Can someone make a trailer for this book? That'd make me really happy :) if you do, tweet it to me, singsongash :)

ALSO CHAPTER 11 SHOULD FINALLY BE FIXED. LET ME KNOW IF IT'S NOT. 

-ashley